Published on Wednesday, December 2, 2009 by LoHud.com (
250 Rally at
by Khurram Saeed
WEST POINT — More than 250 people held a candlelight vigil outside the U.S. Military Academy on Tuesday night to protest President Barack Obama's decision to escalate the 8-year-old war in Afghanistan.
![[Catherine Kraft of Glen Rock, N.J. joins a group of protesters in Highland Falls to voice their opposition to President Obama's decision to send more troops to Afghanistan Dec. 1, 2009. (Vincent DiSalvio / The Journal News)]](cid:image001.jpg@01CA738A.869010F0 "audacity_of_war_Crimes.jpg")
Catherine Kraft of Glen Rock, N.J. joins a group of protesters in Highland Falls to voice their opposition to President Obama's decision to send more troops to
The protest was held shortly before Obama announced that the
The anti-war demonstrators held an hourlong rally at
”I voted for Obama, I like Obama, but I think he trapped himself by trying not to look weak,“ said Jim Budka, who lives in Suffern. ”As always, (Obama) was probably listening to the generals too much. They always think they can win all the wars.“
About 15 organizations, both national and regional, organized the protest. More than 60 people from two local peace groups — WESPAC Foundation in
Some of the many signs and slogans on display read ”We Need Healthcare Not Warfare,“ ”The Audacity of War Crimes“ and ”Money for Jobs, Not War.“
Several people in the crowd said they had voted for Obama with the hope that he would quickly end the war or, at the very least, not escalate the fighting.
”They couldn't believe that he would actually go ahead and do this and do it with that level of troops,“ said WESPAC member Nick Mottern, who lives in
The only counterprotesters on hand were near Thayer Gate. Dennis Maloney of
”If you consider the fact that that area of the world produced people who killed 3,000 Americans in America, maybe it's about time we went over there and stomped them out,“ said Maloney, who added that he was representing the Gathering of Eagles, a national group dedicated to supporting the troops.
Haverstraw resident Paul Deegan actively protested the Vietnam War in his youth but had stayed on the sidelines when it came to
”I just have a sense we are going into a very bad place now,“ Deegan said. ”Iraq was a very bad place and this just seems to be a continuation of the same kinds of policies, and it's very disappointing that this president has chosen to follow that path.“
Nora Freeman carried one end of an American-flag-draped coffin-like display. On its side was a sign that read ”929
Freeman, who lives in Port Chester, said it was time for Obama to stop giving in to Republicans and the right wing.
”They will never like him,“ she said. ”He needs to get that through his head. They will never, ever like him no matter what he does. He caves in to them on everything. ... This is madness. We've got to stop it.“
Maureen Oliver of Stony Point said the country needed to get out Afghanistan for many reasons: to bring the troops home, end Afghan suffering, use the billions of dollars going to the military to rebuild infrastructure at home, and create more jobs and provide universal health care.
”I just feel that our money needs to be spent here when our country is falling apart,“ said Oliver, whose parents were World War II veterans.
Among the organizations that sponsored Tuesday night's candlelight peace vigil were the WESPAC Foundation, the Rockland Coalition for Peace and Justice, the Orange County Democratic Alliance, Peace Action of New York State, World Can't Wait, Peace and Social Progress Now, the Hudson Valley Activist Newsletter, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Troops Out Now, ANSWER and Military Families Speak Out.
© 2009
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"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs
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